Supporting frame for collapsible luggage



Sept. 17, 1957 H. E. EINHORIN SUPPORTING FRAME FOR COLLAPSI BLE LUGGAGE Filed Nov. '15, 1954 INVENTOR. l/mee/ 5 EMA/0R 4rraeA EV United States. Patent ice SUPPORTING FRAME FOR COLLAPSIBLE LUGGAGE HarryE. Einhorn, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor'to Wilco Metal Products, Inc., New York, N.- Y., a corporation of New York Application November 15, 1354, Serial No. 468,592

4 Claims. (Cl. 190-43) This invention relates to containers and has more particular application to valises, handbags and luggage.

An object of the invention is to provide a collapsible will enable'the bag to be folded into a small, compact bundle convenient for carrying, or for storage.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the structures and arrangements hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings-'- in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the bag in the expanded condition constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bag in a collapsedcondition;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, showing the collapsible frame expanded;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the collapsible frame shown in Fig. 3, in a partially collapsed condition;

Fig. 5 is an expanded view taken along line 55 of Fig. 3.

Illustrated in the figures of the drawing is a container in the form of a collapsible valise which has an outer casing 12 of any suitable, flexible or pliant material. The valise 10 comprises both the outer flexible pliant material 12 and an inner supporting'frame (not numbered) shown in greater detail in Figs. 3, 4' and 5. The frame permits the container or valise 10 to collapse into the condition as shown in-Fig; 2 orto hold it in its expanded condition shown in Fig. 1.

The specific details of the casing-12, apart from the frame therein, do not form a part of the inventive feature of the invention and accordingly may be constructed in any well known manner.

The frame (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) includes a top member 14, a bottom member 16 and side walls 18 and 20. The top member 14 is of a rigid construction and when placed within the pliant casing material 12 lies adjacent to the top wall of the container. Similarly, the bottom member 16 also being constructed of a rigid material, lies adjacent to the bottom wall of the casing 12. The sides 18 and 20 of the casing frame, being of wire construction, fit along the sides and in the corners of the casing 12. Both sides 18 and 20 are similar in construction and a detailed description of one will suflice for both.

Taking the side frame 18, it will be noted (Figs. 3 and 4) that the same is composed of an upper member generally identified by the numeral 22 and a lower member generally identified by the numeral 24. The two Patentedrsept. 17,1957

members 22;and 24 are of wire which has a diameter suificient to insure rigidity to. the side frames 18 and 20 and -,yet permits lateral movement of the type and for a purpose which-will be described. Eachlower member24 forms ,a substantially closed rectangle while each upper, member 22 hasa body portion-26 and=two arms 28' extending therefrom. The arms 28-are formed with inturned fingers 30.10 providepivots for the upper members to permit the upper members 22 to pivot relative-to the lower members 24.-

Fixed to opposite sides of each lower member 24is a pairof latches 32; Each-of the latches 32 being similar in construction, comprises a U-shaped bent wallportion 34, hereinafterknown as a latch'wall and a chamber 36. When the latches-32 are appl-ied'to the members 22 and: 24 the latchwalls 34 enclose aportion of each lower framer24 and are held rigid and :infixed position relative: thereto. by securing plates 38 placed overthe chambers 36 and the enclosed fingers 30 and member 24. Screws: or.rivets 40 then holdathe plates'38 in'position. In this way the latches 32 accommodate the fingers30 of the: arms 28.- and them-embers 24' for relative pivoting movement in the'chambers 36.

As: noted-previously the members 22 are formedof wirehaving sutlicient rigidity,-but of such: a nature as. to. permit lateralmovement'of the arms 28. so that theymay-move laterally between the walls 34 to assume the: position shown by-the dot dash lines in'Fig. 3. Transverse;ap.ertures .42 which aredefinedin. the latches 321 between the-end OfathE' U-shaped-wall 34 and'the body' of the latches; 32 provideopenings; through which the". arms 28? may move transversely relative to the latch walls, 34 and: completely out of engagement withthe latches:32, see Fig. 4;

'Thus,--. when the frame: forthe casing 12 is in the: expandedposition as shown in Fig.3 the-arms 28,- because of 'theirrigid .constructnon, will resiliently move between the Uvshaped walls 34,. thereto be latched and retained in the same manner: asthesides of the lower member 24 are retainedbetween :the latch walls :34.- However, when it is desired to release the latching engagement of Ethe arms 28 with 'the latches-32,the armsare squeezed laterally toward each. other to assume the dot dash 'posi-- tion shown in-Fig. 3-andin alignment with the transverse-- aperture 42. Theyare then movedttransversely out of; the-respective apertures by pivoting: about the fingers- 30-mounted in thechambers 36. Atthis-time the upper; andlower members 22-and24 may be. collapsed and: pivotally movedrelativeto each other about the latch; members32.

The top-and bottomxrigid. members 14 and 16 respec-.- tively are pivoted re1ative:to:the-upper and:lower. frame-- members 22v and 24 respectively. The toprmember 14+ pivots. about thebody portions 26 of theuppen frame? members .22 .by. the hinges: 44. while the bottom member: 16issimilarlypivotedto thebottom side ofthe lower--vv frameimembersby, the hinges-46.x In :thisway when the upper and lower; frames 22.a-nd-24rpivot:relative toreach other about the latch members 32, both the top and bottom members 14 and 16 will also pivot relative to the respective frame members 22 and 24 to which they are hinged.

During the pivoting movements described above to insure that the rigid members 14 and 16 will seat properly in height with respect to the frame members to which they are hinged, guide members 48 are secured on the upper and lower frames 22 and 24 respectively. The guide members 48 limit the movement of the top and bottom members 14 and 16 by moving with the frames to which they are secured and by touching and laying over a portion of the top and bottom members so as to limit and guide the height of their movement relative to their respective frames.

When the valise is in its expanded condition (Fig. 1) and the supporting frame therefor is also expanded as shown in Fig. 3, the arms 28 of the upper members 22 will be retained and latched between the latch walls 34 and into alignment with the similarly disposed arms of the lower members 24. To collapse the valise it is merely necessary to squeeze the arms 28 inwardly toward each other, that is, laterally between the walls 34- until they assume the position identified by the dot dash lines, Fig. 3. At such time they will be in alignment with the transverse apertures 42.

By then pivoting the upper members 22 relative to the latches 32 about their fingers 30 positioned in the chambers 36, the upper and lower members 22 and 24 will collapse relative to each other. In turn, the valise 10 and its flexible casing 12 will assume the collapsed condition shown in Fig. 2. a

To expand the valise 10 from the collapsed condition shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 1 it is merely necessary that the top and bottom walls of the valise be separated. This in turn will separate the top and bottom members 14 and 16 of the valise frame. As the members 14 and 16 are separated the upper and lower members 22 and 24 will assume relative positions substantially similar to that shown in Fig. 4.

Continued separation of the top and bottom members will move the arms 28 so that their outer surfaces will engage and ride along a side of the transverse apertures 42 until they are moved into the apertures. At that time, due to their own resiliency, the arms 28 will automatically spread laterally from their dot dash position to one in which they fit between the walls 34, see Fig. 3, there to be latched in alignment with the lower members 24. Together the pairs of aligned members 22 and 24 will form the sides 18 and of the valise frame.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a collapsible device having a casing of flexible material, a frame to reinforce the walls of said casing in an expanded position comprising a top member, a bottom member, a pair of wire frames at each end of said members including a lower member and an upper member, a pair of latches rigid with opposite sides of one end of each of said lower members, each latch having a latch area and an aperture, each of said upper members having a body, arms extending from said body and a finger on each of said arms pivotally mounted on a respective one of said latches, hinge means connecting said top and bottom members at the ends thereof with said bodies and the opposite ends of said lower members respectively, and means on said bodies and said opposite ends cooperating with said top and bottom members to guide the top and bottom members into an expanded position relative to said upper and lower members respectively.

2. In a collapsible bag having a casing of flexible material and having top, bottom side and front walls, a frame to reinforce said casing in an expanded position comprising a top member adjacent said top wall, a bottom member adjacent said bottom wall, wire frames adjacent each of said side walls, said wire frames each including a lower member and an upper member, a pair of latches fixed on opposite sides of one end of each of said lower members, each of said latches having a latch area and an aperture adjacent thereto, said upper members each having a body, arms extending rom the ends of the body and pivot fingers bent from the ends of said arms, each of said pivot fingers being pivotally mounted on a respective one of said latches for movement relative thereto, hinges interconnecting said bottom member with said lower members at the ends thereof opposite said one end, hinges interconnecting said top member with the bodies of said upper members, and means on said bodies and said opposite ends of said lower members cooperating with said top and bottom members respectively to guide said respective members into said expanded position.

3. In a collapsible frame for a container, a side, said side having upper and lower relatively swingable members and a pair of latches fixedly secured to one of said members and cooperating with said other member to releasably lock the upper and lower members relative to each other in one position of their relative movement, said other of said members being substantially U-shaped, the ends of the arms of the U being bent to extend coaxially, said arms being resiliently movable toward and away from each other, each of said bent ends being slidably and swingably engaged with one of said latches, said latches, each having a reentrantly bent keeper and a side opening adjacent the edge of the keeper through which the sides of said other member may move laterally and transversely.

4. A collapsible device for maintaining in extended relation a casing of flexible material, said device comprising two opposed foldable side frames, each said frame including a pair of relatively swingable members, respectively upper and lower, a pair of latch members, one on each edge of said lower member, for releasably locking said upper and lower members against said relative movement, said latch members each having a reentrantly bent keeper and having a transverse opening adjacent said latch keeper, means on each said latch member to support said upper and lower members for said relative movement, arms on said upper member laterally movable in said last-named means and behind said latch keeper, in which position said upper and lower members are latched against said relative movement, and movable transversely from behind said latch keepers through said transverse opening to be free to engage in said relative swinging movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

